Juvenile fiction

Sparkle

Sam has difficulty adapting to his brand new life, his new home town, house and school. Sam and his new teacher are not at all on the same wavelength. The teacher thinks Sam is lazy and nothing but trouble, Sam on the other hand is convinced she doesn't understand him, while he is giving all he can - which, apparently, isn't good enough. Sam doesn't know how to cope and his accomplishments deteroriorate dramatically.

Things seem to take a turn for the better with the arrival of a lively young dog, named Sparkle, but when Sparkle is killed in an accident, Sam is inconsolable. Matters spiral out of hand until he meets a peculiar old lady who starts giving him drumming lessons, investing in him and giving him back his confidence and self-esteem.

Anke Kranendonk has done a marvellous job in showing the emotions a young boy can experience when his expectations do not match reality.